Self-contained fastener-concealing hinge leaf

ABSTRACT

A hinge leaf of synthetic plastic material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, is provided with fastener holes to secure the hinge leaf to the toilet seat or lid or other hinge member, and also has a recess adjacent these holes. Formed integral with the hinge leaf so that it cannot be lost or misplaced and is always at hand is a fastener hole cover which swings downward to conceal the fastener holes and has a tongue or lug which fits snugly into the recess as a detent to hold the cover in place.

United States Patent Toldo et al.

[4 1 May 30, 1972 SELF-CONTAINED FASTENER- CONCEALING HINGE LEAF [72] inventors: Anthony P. Toldo, Windsor, Ontario, Canada; Robert E. Watson, Orchard Lake, Mich.

[731 Assignee: Swedish Crucible Steel Company, Detroit,

Mich.

[22] Filed: Feb. 2, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 7,757

[52] US. Cl ..l6/l48, 16/150, 4/236 [51] Int. Cl ..E05d 11/00 [58] Field of Search 16/148, 150; 4/236, 240, 241

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,277,500 10/1966 Carlson ..4/236 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 642,484 9/1950 Great Britain ..4/240 372,692 12/1963 Switzerland ..l6/148 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Doris C. Troutman AttorneyBarthe1 & Bugbee [5 7] ABSTRACT A hinge leaf of synthetic plastic material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, is provided with fastener holes to secure the hinge leaf to the toilet seat or lid or other hinge member, and also has a recess adjacent these holes. Formed integral with the hinge leaf so that it cannot be lost or misplaced and is always at hand is a fastener hole cover which swings downward to conceal the fastener holes and has a tongue or lug which fits snugly into the recess as a detent to hold the cover in place.

1 Claim, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEBrmso I972 3, 565.552

' SHEET 1 OF 2 Zi/Zliifi' 64 /6 FIGS) L 2 72 Z6 76% FIGIO 6P )6 74 Fl M G INVENTORS 2 ANTHONY I? TOLDO M 0 ROBERT E. WATSON av NW4 ATTO EYS PATENTEDMM 30 I972 SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG. I?)

.-.|y m lsmoas ANTHONY F. TOLDO ROBER E. WATSON M fdwbwww A RNEYS In a modification, the cover has a curved portion which snaps over the end of the hinge leaf. Another modification has a cover containing a recess which either snaps over an upstanding boss or over edge ribs on the hinge leaf. In a still further modification, the cover is hinged along a side edge of the hinge leaf so as to swing thereover into detent engagement with the undercut opposite side edge.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a self-contained fastener-concealing hinge with an intermediate lug, in its closed position, according to one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a central vertical section taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but with the cover in its opened position prior to closing;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a second form of the invention having an end lug onv the cover fitting the correspondinglylocated recess;

FIG. 5 is a central vertical section taken along the line 5-5 1 in FIG. 4, but with the cover in its opened position;

FIG. 6 is a central vertical section through a third form of the invention in its closed position wherein the cover has a curved end which snaps over the correspondingly-curved end of the hinge leaf;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but with the cover in its opened position;

FIG. 8is a side elevation of a fourth form of the invention wherein the cover has a recess which snaps over an upstanding boss on the hinge leaf;

FIG. 9 is a partly-vertical and partly-inclined cross-section taken along the broken line 9-9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of a fifth form of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a partly-vertical and partly-inclined section taken along the broken line 11-11 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of a sixth form of the invention, with the cover in its closed position;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the hinge leaf of FIG. 12 with the cover in its open position;

FIG. 14 is a cross-section taken along the line 14-14 in FIG. 13; and 5 FIG. 15 is a perspective view looking downwardly and rearwardly from above, of the hinge leaf shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 inclusive.

Referring to the drawing in detail, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a self-contained fastener-concealing hinge construction, generally designated 10, according to one form of the invention as consisting of a hinge leaf body 12 having a base portion 14 and an upwardly-inclined arm 16 at one end thereof containing a hinge pin bore 18 for receiving the hinge pin (not shown) with which the hinge leaf 10 is associated. The base portion 14 is provided with a pair of longitudinally-spaced fastener holes 20 between which is formed a recess 22. Formed integral with the opposite end 24 of the base 14 from the arm 16 is the flexible pivotal connection 26 of a fastener hole cover 28. The latter is provided at its approximate midportion with a downwardly-projecting lug or tongue 30 which is adapted to frictionally engage the opposite sides of the recess 22.

The hinge leaf body 10 and the cover 28 integral therewith are formed of a suitable flexible synthetic plastic material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene plastic, so that the cover 28 can be swung freely upward and downward into fastener-hole revealing and fastener-hole concealing positions respectively. The flexing takes place around the flexible pivotal connection 26, as shown by the contrasting positions of FIGS. 2 and 3.

In the installation of the hinge leaf 10, the cover 28 is swung upward and outward so that it is inclined away from the base 14 sufficiently to uncover the fastener holes 20. The workman then lines up the hinge leaf 10 with the toilet seat, lid or other article to which the hinge leaf is to be attached, drills the necessary holes, if such drilling has not already been done, in-

serts the screws or other fasteners in the holes 20 and drives them in with a screw driver or power tool. When the fasteners are properly seated, the operator swings the cover 28 forward and downward so that the lug or tongue 30 enters the recess 22 and frictionally engages the side walls thereof with a detent action. Thereafter, if such access is required, the operator pries up the cover 28 by inserting a knife blade or screw driver between it and the base 14, whereupon the screws or other fasteners are exposed for tightening, removal or other desired action.

The second form of self-contained fastener-concealing hinge leaf, generally designated 32, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is generally similar to the hinge leaf 10 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and similar parts are designated with the same reference numerals. The hinge leaf 32, however, is provided with a recess 34 and the cover 36 with a downwardly-projecting lug or tongue 38 near the forward or free end thereof. For convenience, the recess 34 and the lug 38 are disposed transversely of the base 14 and the cover 36 respectively. The installation and use of the second form of hinge leaf 32 is substantially the same as that of the first form of hinge leaf l0, hence requires no repetitron.

The third form of hinge leaf, generally designated 40, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, has a hinge leaf body 42 with a base portion 44 and an upwardly-inclined arm 46 at one end thereof containing a hinge pin bore 48. Longitudinally-spaced fastener holes 50 are provided as before. Hingedly attached to and integral with the hinge leaf body 42 at a pivotal connection 48 near the junction of the base 44 and arm 46 is a fastener hole cover 52. The base 44 at its rearward end portion is rounded as at 54 to receive the correspondingly-rounded downwardlyextending free end portion 56 of the cover 52.

The installation and use of the third form of hinge leaf 40 also follows a similar procedure after the cover 56 has been pried upward by inserting a knife blade or screw driver under the cover 52. The curved end portion 56 of the cover 52 yields outward in order to pass over the rounded end portion 54 of the base 44 and resumes its original position shown in FIG. 7 when the cover 52 is in its raised or open position. The cover 52 is swung upward a sufficient amount to adequately uncover the fastener holes 50 so that the screws or other fasteners may be inserted and driven in by means of the screw driver.

The fourth form of hinge leaf, generally designated 60, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is of the same general construction as the hinge leaf 10 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and corresponding parts are consequently designated with the same reference numerals in order to avoid duplication of description. In the hinge leaf 60, however, the cover 62 is provided with an elongated depression 64 which mates with an elevation 66 with a frictionally-engaging detent action whereby the edge portions 68 of the cover 62 frictionally engage the sides 69 of the elevation 66. The installation of the fourth form of hinge leaf 60 again is similar to that described above in connection with the hinge leaf 10 except that the detent action is brought about by the side walls 68 of the cover engaging the side surfaces 69 of the elevation 66, and the raising of the cover 62 is effected by inserting a knife blade or screw driver under the forward end of the cover 62 remote from the pivotal connection 26 in order to pry it upward.

The fifth form of hinge leaf 70, shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, is also of generally similar construction to the hinge leaf 60 of FIGS. 8 and 9 and similar parts bear the same reference numerals. In the hinge leaf 70, the cover 72 is provided with an elongated groove 74 extending to and through the forward end thereof with side walls 76 which snap over the longitudinal edge portions 78 above the rabbets 80 which extend lengthwise along the base 14 with a frictionally-engaging detent action. In this instance, however, the bottom surface 82 of the groove 74 closely approaches the top surface 84 of the base 14. The installation and use of the fifth form of hinge leaf 70 of FIGS. 10 and 11 is likewise similar to that of the hinge leaf 60 of FIGS. 8 and 9. The cover 72 is raised by inserting a knife blade or screw driver under the forward end thereof and prying it upward to expose the fastener holes, only one of which is shown in FIG. 1 l

The sixth form of hinge leaf, generally designated 80, also has a hinge leaf body 12 of substantially the same construction as in the previously-described forms of the invention, hence corresponding parts are again designated with the same reference numerals. In the hinge leaf 80, however, the body 12 has straight parallel portions 82 and 84 along opposite side edges, the portion 84 having an undercut portion or rabbet 86 which serves as a detent portion (FIG. 14). The cover 88 is tapered at its opposite ends to conform to the contour or outline of the body portion 12 but has a straight intermediate inner edge portion or hinge portion 90 which is integrally-attached to the straight portion 82 at its junction with the flat bottom surface 92. The cover 88 otherwise has an inclined inner side portion 94 joining the hinge portion 90 to the top wall 96, which at its opposite edge 98 has an inclined side portion or detent portion 100 terminating in a straight inwardlyprojecting detent rib or bead 102. Accordingly, when the cover 88 is swung in a counterclockwise direction as shown by the arrow 104 in FIG. 15, the rib or bead 102 snaps into the undercut portion 86 while the top wall 96 covers the fastener holes 106 and the fasteners (not shown) therein.

The installation and use of the sixth form of hinge leaf 80 of FIGS. 12 to 15 inclusive is likewise similar to that of the hinge leaves 10, 32, 40, 60 and of FIGS. 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10. As before, the cover 88 is raised by inserting a knife blade or screw driver under the side edge 84 thereof beneath the bead or rib 102, thereby exposing the fastener holes 106.

We claim: 1. A self-contained fastener-concealing hinge leaf comprismg a hinge leaf body of flexible synthetic plastic material having an elongated base portion with a pair of fastener holes therethrough and having at one end an enlarged portion offset relatively to said base portion and integral with said base portion and containing a hinge-pin-receiving bore, an elongated fastener cover having at the end opposite said enlarged portion an integral pivotal connection with said body and swingable therearound into concealing relationship with said holes, a body detent recess on said body spaced away from said pivotal connection toward said hinge-pin-receiving bore, and a cover detent projection on said cover movable with said cover into and out of yieldingly-detained engagement with said body detent recess. 

1. A self-contained fastener-concealing hinge leaf comprising a hinge leaf body of flexible synthetic plastic material having an elongated base portion with a pair of fastener holes therethrough and having at one end an enlarged portion offset relatively to said base portion and integral with said base portion and containing a hinge-pin-receiving bore, an elongated fastener cover having at the end opposite said enlarged portion an integral pivotal connection with said body and swingable therearound into concealing relationship with said holes, a body detent recess on said body spaced away from said pivotal connection toward said hinge-pin-receiving bore, and a cover detent projection on said cover movable with said cover into and out of yieldingly-detained engagement with said body detent recess. 